Stoker furnace



Sept. 18, '1934.

w. A. HARE STOQKER FURNACE Filed April 29. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v ZM/reQ fl 2672a,

ATTORNEY-5 Sept 18, 134.

w. A. HARE STOKER FURNACE Filed April 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. A. RE

STOKER FU ACE 3 $heets eet 3 Filed April 29, 1931 INV TOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNirEiD PATENT orr icej V 1,974,308: v STOKER FURNACE Wilfred A. Hare, Detroit, Mich. Application April 29, 1931,Serial- No. 533,736

' 17 Claims. (01. 110 44 The-present invention pertains to a novel stoker Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the furfurnace having automatic fuel feeding means, nace;

and an object thereof is to provide novel and efii- Fig; 5 is a section on the line 5'5 of Figure 1 cientmeans for effecting uninterrupted discharge Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of parts showni'n 5. of fuel refuse and to avoid clogging ofthis dis- Figure 5} 60 chargemeans by large lumps or clinker. For ob- Fig. 7is'a section on the line '7-7 of Figure 4;

vious reasons, it is desirable to maintain this and ref-use discharge at a given limited width which Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are transverse sections-showing might, ordinarily, become clogged, and as already modifications in the construction and arrange- 10; indicated, the present invention includes means ment of parts and in the use of multiple retorts. 65 for effectually preventing such clogging despite Reference to these views will 'n'owb'e made by the limited width of the discharge opening. use of like characters which are employed to- With the above and other related objects in designate corresponding par'tsfthroughout. view, the discharge means consists of two sets The numeral 1 designates generally the maii of refuse receiving members-spaced apart to form sonry setting constituting the foundation and 70- an outlet therebetween, and so positioned as to Wall structure upon and within which the fur receivefuel refuse from the grate structure. nace proper is set. At one side of this-setting, One of these sets comprises members sloping as shown in Figure 4, is a trough or retort'2 exdownwardly toward the other set and so inclined" tending'through the front wall 3' ofthe setting,

as to provide a substantial support for such refuse, with this exterior end formed as "a cylinder, in- 75.

and the other set consists of crushing members dicated by the numeral 4 in Figures 1 and 5." Exadapted'to be oscillated, preferably in a horizontending along one edge of this retort in the ar tal direction transversely of the lower end of the rangement shownin Fig. 4, is a series 'oftuyeres' grate structure. The opposed faces of the two 5 in the form of plates suspended from a ledge 6 sets of membersare preferably roughened, as by on the adjacent side wall land having air ports serrations or ribs, sothat relative oscillation of or ducts 'l. From the other wall of this retort 2 the sets provides a grinding or crushing action, extends a grate structure comprising alternating thereby disintegrating large'lump's offuel refuse fixed and movable grate-bars 8 and 9, as may be or clinkers' to a size which will readily passseen more clearly in Figures land 3. These bars;

301 throughthe discharge space'between said sets of are-hollow and consist each ofsplit longitudinal v b r sections 10 secured together by tie bolts 11' as In order to empty the discharge means rapidly shown in Figures 1 and 3. and completely, asin cleaning the furnace or in These grate bars are resting at one end uponcase the discharge meansbecornes clogged despite the side edge of the retort 2 opposite that pro- 1 the action of said crushing means, the sloping videdwith the 'tuy e pl s and these ends are members are pivotally supported andi may be ported above the retort, as indicated by the nuswung through a substantial arc, as by manually a for a p p s Wh ch Will presently be operable means accessible from the exterior: of' described. As shown in Figur s 3 a 4, 930111 the furnace. In this connection, the sloping grate bar is formed with a-bottom plate or wall 13 40: members are preferably mounted on a rotatable e d g th oughout a portion y of thelength shaft one end of which extends" outside the furo each bar an Testingllpona fixed l d cm nace and this end may be engaged'by rocking, the upper edge of a wall spaced from the adjacentlever when it'is desired to swing these members; i 9 the r thus preventing as ge of Means for effecting automatic operation of the t dlrectly l f m' the rfatort t eneat various parts; are set forth in the following det grate barsi-an -m bemgthus t v s v into the upper ends of said bars at one-end edge taileddescripti on. v p I I The invention isfully disclosed by Wayof. ex- 5 ii g gig gg outlet opemng at ample in thefollowing description and in. the ac-- These gratebars 8 and 9 Slope a d companyme ms f vI andlaterally from the retort 2,and tlie'lower end Flgure1718a-longltudmalrsectlonrthmughihe of 'each fixed bar 8 is formed: with" an' invertedfuI' l p y fi channel 15 which rests upon and receives 'the'up-- Fls. 21s a fie -pl v w h r 'struw per edge of a. suitable supporting angle bar' 16: ture; r j V secured upon the masonry base. Thus, thefixed Flg. 3 1s a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;- bars 8: are heldagainst shifting lengthwise.

The supporting angle bar 16 has secured thereto, a number of spaced brackets 17 formed with aligned bearings 18, and in these bearings is laid a rock shaft 19 extending longitudinally of the furnace beneath the lower ends of the grate bars. Cranks 20 on this shaft 19 extend laterally therefrom and at their outer ends carry a rod 21 to engage within aligned bearings 22 formed on and beneath the lower end portions of the several movable grate bars 9.

The brackets 17 carry a supporting shaft or rod 23 in parallelism with the shaft 19 and crusher members or plates 24 are suspended from and slidably mounted upon this rod 23 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. Each crusher 24 is formed with a recess 25 in its side toward the adjacent bracket 17 to accommodate the adjacent bearing end of said bracket in which the rod 23 ismounted, and this recess is of greater length than the length of this hearing end of the bracket, so that face 26, and in these hearings on the several crusher members is laid a reciprocable shaft 29 having lugs 30 which extend into notches 31 formed in the rear sides of said crushers. Therefore, when the shaft 29 is reciprocated longitudi- '-f nally by the means presently to be described, the

crushers 24 are moved therewith and are slid along the shaft 23. Further, each bracket 1'7 is provided with a roller 32 journalled on a vertical axis within a suitable bearing fork on each bracket to engage the rear edge of the bearing ledge 28,

whereby the lower end of each crusher has rolling contact with its support to increase the freedom of its longitudinal reciprocation.

Journalled in suitable bearings adjacent the 1, outer end of the cylinder 4 (see Fig. 1) is a crank shaft 33 to which driving power from any suitable source is applied in any suitable manner as by a gear 34, and from a crank 35 on said crank shaft, power is transmitted by a connecting rod 36 to reciprocate a ram or piston 37 within the cylinder 4. Mounted upon the projecting end of the retort 2 at the inner end of said piston 4 is a feed hopper 38 to discharge into the projecting end of the retort ahead of said piston or ram 37.

. I Reciprocation of said ram, as fuel is fed into the end journalled in a bearing 40 formed on the ex-- terior of the projecting end of the retort 2, and its opposite end is supported in a suitabie bearing bracket 41 mounted on the front wall 3.

This shaft 39 also extends transversely of the furnace, and slopes downwardly from the bearing 40 so that its lower end lies substantially at the level of the rock shaft 19. This lower end of the shaft 39 has a segment gear 42 secured thereto and in mesh with a similar segment gear 43 on the end of the shaft 19 which projects through the wall 3 as clearly shown in Figure 6.

The upper end of said shaft 39 adjacent the retort 2, is provided with a fixed arm 44 extending downwardly therefrom and formed with a fork 45 at its lower end. The connecting rod 36 has a branch or arm 46 extending downwardly therefrom and through the bottom wall of the cylinder 4, as may be seen in Fig. 1, and a link 4'? has one end pivotally connected to said fork 45, and at its opposite end is formed with a slot 48 through which a'pin 49 on the arm 46 extends. A screw 50 is screwed through an opening in the end of the link 47 and extends into one end of the slot 48 to engage the pin 49 and is adjustable to regulate the idle stroke of said pin in said slot, whereby the movements of said link 47 and arm 44'are adjusted and hence the rocking angle of the shaft 19 which imparts movement to the movable grate bars, is also determined, this rocking angle of said shaft 19 determining the swing of the bar 21 and thus the length of reciprocation of the movable grate bars 9.

The hub 42 of the segment gear 42 has a pair of spaced lugs 51 extending therefrom as shown.

in Figures 1 and 5. The outer end of the shaft 29 is flattened and slotted as at 52 to engage between the lugs 51. A bolt 53 passingthrough holes in the lugs 51, passes through said slot in the end of shaft 29 whereby said shaft is reciprocated longitudinally bythe oscillation of, said gear 42. An adjusting screw 54 passes through a screw-threaded opening in the end of said shaft 29 and into the end of said slot therein, into engagement with the bolt 53, whereby the stroke of said shaft 29 may be regulated and it is evident that this reciprocation of the shaft 29 imparts a like movement to the crushers 24 by means ofthe lugs 30.

Opposite the faces 26 of the crushers 24, a

longitudinal structuralmember or angle bar 55.

is secured to the masonry wall 1 and carries one or more bearing brackets 56 in which brackets is journalleda shaft 5? also extending through the front wall 3 of the setting, as shown in Figure 4, and upon this shaft 5'? is secured a series of members or plates 58 which constitute a dumping or ash grate. This ash grate normally extends downwardly from the shaft 5'7 in an inclined position with its'free edge directly opposite and spaced from the serrations 27 of the crushers 24, and this free or lower end of said ash grate is similarly serrated or formed with vertical ribs, as at 59. This ash grate formed by the plurality of plates 58, and said crushers 25 therefore form, between their lower edge portions, an outlet 60 for the discharge of ash and clinker from the grate bars, into an ash pit 61 built in the foundation of the masonry setting 1.

From the exterior end of the shaft 5'7, extends a finger 62 in a direction opposite to that in which the members 58 extend and on the wall 3 is a boss 63 into which is threaded a stop stud 63 engaged by the finger 62, whereby the angular position of the ash grate is determined, and this position is made adjustable by the adjustment of the stud 63 in the boss 63. The upper surface of each ofv the members 58 is formed with cells or pockets 64 which become filled with ashes, and this covering of ashes forms a heat insulation for these members, doing away with the necessity for a special insulating coating therefor.

Air is admitted in any suitable manner to the chamber 65 formed in the setting below the retort 2 between the wall 1 and the wall which supports the angle bar 14, and this air enters the top of the retort at one side thereof, through the ducts '7, and at the opposite side of the retort,

passes into the upper ends of the hollow' grate bars, and thence through the ports 1 2 into' the retort at grate side of said retort. A-draft of air'is'thussupplied to-the top of the bank of fuel inv said: retortr It has already been stated that the fuel 'overfl'ows upon the fire grateformed. by the bars.82 and 9 and this bed: of fuel onfsaid grate is supplied'with air which flows through theseihollow grate bars and thence. upwardbetween adjacentbars, as indicated by the arrow in. Figure l. a

The bed of fuel burning uponsaid grate bars 8 and-9, is moved progressively downward, toward theoutlet 60, by theendwise-reciprocation of" the movable bars 9"-wh'i'ch-' movement effected by the means already described. Theash and clinkerd'ropping from the lower-ends of these grate bars is temporarily supported upon and between the crushers 24 and the ash grate'sections 58; the outlet 60 being restricted in order topre vent the falling of large lumps ofclinkers into the pit 61 formed in the masonrysetting below said: outlet. The clogging of this outlet by" such large clinker is prevented by the movement of the crushers 24, theserrat-ions' 2-7 of which cooperate with the serrations 59 on'the ashgrate members, to. break" up and reduce suchlarge clinker to'a size which will readily fall through said outlet.

In event that the outlet 60' should become clogged despite the action of the cr-ushers, or'if it is desired to clean theoutlet and dumping g-rateentirely; said dumping grate may be swung downwardly, manually by the application of a lever 66 to the outer squared end of the" shaft 57 as shown in Figure 5, after turning the stop member 63 out of the path of the lug 6-2 on the outer end of said shaft.

In Figure 8 is shown'a modified arrangement wherein the retort 70 which corresponds to the retort 2 is adapted to supply two series of grate bars '71 and '72" comprising fixed and movable grate bars 8' and 9' extending laterally-from the sides of said retort in opposite directions with their upper ends supported upon the opposite sidesv of said retort. 'Each of these grates Tl- 72 is' constructed as described" in connection with Figures 1 to 7 and each grate is: equipped at its lower end with a 'crushing'device 73similar to the crushing device 24, and a dumping. or ash grate 74; corresponding to .the grate structure 58 issupported; in opposed and spaced relation to each of said crushers '73, also as previously described. Air issupplied' through the hollow grate bars and ports 75 in the upper end of each grate bar .to the top of the burning fuel in the retortv 70. similar to the manner in' which it is supplied by the ports 7 and12', and air is supplied to the two beds. of

burning fuel. upon. the grates 71 and 72. in the same manner as to. the fuel bed upon, the bars 8and9. v

I-n-Figure 9 there are shown two spacedapart parallel retorts 80. with an air supply tuyere- 8L ofsubstantially conical form supported upon the upper adjacent edges of said; retorts and span ning said space between saidretorts. Fuel grate structures 82 similar to-the structurescomprising the bars 8 and 9 as described, extend: from- 4 the outer walls of said retorts, and the upper end of each bar forming each grate structure is formed with ports 83 like the ports '75 and 12- for delivering air to the top. of: the respective re-' torts. At the lower end, of eachnof these grate structures is a movable; crushing. device." 84; ad-

'jacentTwhich-isa dumping or" ash grate 85,. these devices being similar to the. devices 73 and 7.4.

In: the embodiment shown. in Figure 510, there are three parallel and: spacedi'apart retorts corresponding to the retorts 2; 7.0 and 802 with air supplying. .tuyeres- 9'1 of: conical" form span ning the spaces between said: retorts'the upper ends or conical points of said tuyeres being in a horizontal'plane. Fuel grates 92, like thegrates 72 and 82 extend outwardly and downwardly from the outer walls of the outermost of the se ries' of retorts. Air is supplied to the two outer retorts through ports-.93 in the upper'ends of the grate bars 92 in aimanner like-in: the other constructions shown, and as descrioed in connection with Figures f8 and 9, there being also a. crushing device 94 similar to the crushers 24, 73 and 84', provided at the lower end- 0f each grate structure 92', and adjacent each of these crushers is a diunping or ash grate95 like the grate. 58 of Fig. 4 and the grates Pf-and 85, shown in- Figures-8and 9;

The modifications shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 -illustrate the flexibility of the-systemv for adapting the same to-diiferent sizes of furnaces Although specific embodiments of the invention" have been illustrated and described, itwill be understood that various alterations in the details 'of construction. may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, asindicated by the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

1. In a stoker furnace, an elongated retort, meansforfeeding fuel into said'retort", means for receiving burning fuel laterally from said retort and supporting such fuel, residue receiving elements to: receive burned fuel residue from said burning fuel receiving means and spaced apart to form an outlet therebetween for discharging burned fuel residue receivedfrom said fuel re ceiving means, means for actuating'said fuel receiving'means to move burning fuel progressively along said means towards said outlet, and means for reciprocating one of said residue receiving elements: relative to the other and in a direction longitudinally of said retort and transversely of 1 said means forreceiving burning fuel, to assist said residue in passing through said outlet.

2. In a stoker furnace, a plurality o-f-horizontally extending elongated retorts, means for feeding fuel into said retorts, means for receiving 1 burning fuel from said retorts and supporting such fuel, spaced apart fuel residue receiving elements forming therebetween outlets for discharging sa-id' residue received from said fuel receiving means, means for actuating said fuel receiving means to move burning fuel progressively along the same toward said outlets, and means for reciprocating one ofsaid elements relative to the other-and transversely of the plane of movement of said fuel-receiving means, to assist residue in 1 passing through said outlets; 3. A fuel residue-receiving and discharging device forprogre'ssive feed stoker furnaces, comprising a pair'of spaced apart elements forming therebetweenan elongated fuel residue discharge 1.;

4; A. fuel residue receiving and-discharging device for progressive feed stoker furnaces including inclined grate bars, and comprising a pair of spaced apart elements extending transversely of the ends of said bars and forming an elongated residue discharge opening, one of said elements having substantially vertical ribs on its face forming one side of said discharge opening, and means for reciprocating one of said elements in a direction longitudinally of said discharge opening.

5. A fuel residue receiving and discharging device for progressive feed stoker furnaces including inclined grate bars, and comprising a pair of spaced apart elements extending transversely of the lower ends of said bars said elements forming the sides of an elongated residue discharge opening, means for moving one of said elements relative to the other in a direction longitudinally of said opening, one of said elements being supported for downward swinging movement and normally supported in a downwardly sloping position toward the other elements, and means for swinging said swinging element.

6. In a stoker furnace, an elongated retort, means for feeding fuel into said retort, grate bars extending laterally from said retort with their upper ends supported upon a side wall of said retort to receive burning fuel therefrom, certain of said bars being longitudinally movable, spaced apart ash and clinker receiving elements at the outer ends of said bars and forming between them an outlet for discharging said ash and clinker, one of said elements being formed opposite said outlet to abrade the clinker upon movement of one of said elements relative to the other, means for reciprocating said longitudinally movable bars in the direction of their length, and means for moving one of said ash and clinker receiving elements longitudinally and relative to the other transversely of the lower ends of said bars and longitudinally of said retort, to crush clinker and discharge the crushed clinker and ash through said outlet.

7. In a stoker furnace having inclined grate bars, a fuel residue receiving and discharging device comprising spaced apart crushing elements forming between them, a residue discharge opening at the lower ends of said bars, said elements having opposed roughened surfaces forming the opposite sides of said opening, and means for reciprocating one of said elements relative to the other and transversely of the adjacent ends of said bars.

8. In a stoker furnace having inclined grate bars, a fuel residue receiving and discharging device comprising opposed elements at the lower ends of said bars to receive fuel residue therefrom, said elements being spaced apart to provide an elongated discharge opening therebetween extending transversely of the lower ends of said bars, one of said elements being supported inga downwardly inclined position with its free edge forming one side of said opening and the other of said elements being supported in a vertical position with its lower edge portion forming the opposite side of said opening, said elements being roughened at their opposed portions at opposite sides of said opening, and means for moving one of said elements relative to the other in a direction longitudinally of said opening and transversely of the lower ends of said bars to crush fuel residue clinker lodged in said opening.

9. In a stoker furnace having inclined grate bars, a fuel residue receiving and discharging device comprising opposed fuel residue crushing and discharging members at the lower ends of said grate bars, said members being spaced apart at their adjacent edges to provide a discharge opening therebetween, means for supporting one of said members in a vertical position beneath the free ends of said'bars, means for supporting the other of said members in a downwardly inclined position with its lower edge forming an edge of said opening, means for moving said vertically supported member transversely of the lower ends of said bars, and means for swinging said inclined member toward and from said vertical member.

10. In a stoker furnace, the combination of a horizontally disposed retort, means for feeding fuel into said retort, a series of grate bars with one end thereof engaging an edge of said retort and with said bars extending laterally and downwardly from'said retort, means at the lower ends of said bars for moving certain of said bars longitudinally, a clinker crushing member supported at the lower ends of said bars for movement transversely of said bars, a serrated ash receiving grate pivotally supported adjacent one edge and when in one position having its free edge in juxtaposition to the lower edge of said crushing member, said crushing member being also formed with serrations adjacent its lower edge, and power means for moving said crushing member longitudinally of said ash grate and transversely of said grate bars, including an endwise movable shaft operatively connected to said member.

11. In a stoker furnace, the combination of a plurality of retorts arranged side by side in longitudinal parallel relation, means for feeding fuel into each of saidretorts, two sets of longitudinally inclined grate bars, one set extending laterally from the outer side of one of the outer of said retorts and the other of said sets extending laterally in an opposite direction from the outer side of the other outer retort, means at the outer end of each set of grate bars for receiving ash and clinker from said bars, said means each comprising opposed sets of members with one set supported with one edge adjacent the outer end of the adjacent set of grate bars and extending downwardly therefrom and the other of said sets of members supported adjacent its outer edge with its inner edge adjacent the lower edge of said first named set and spaced therefrom to provide an ash and clinker discharge opening therebetween, and power operating means for moving said first named set transversely of the direction of fuel feed down each set of bars and relative to said second set, to aid in the discharge of ash and clinker through said discharge opening.v

12. In a stoker furnace having inclined grate bars, an ash and clinker receiving and discharging device, said device comprising a pair of spaced apart members extending transversely of the lower ends of said bars and forming a discharge opening between the opposed portions of said members, one of said members being supported for longitudinal movement relative to the other member and transversely of the said bars, rollers engaging said longitudinally movable member to hold the same in position and permit free movement thereof, and means for reciprocating said movable member longitudinally in contact with said rollers.

13. In a stoker furnace having inclined grate bars, an ash and clinker receiving and discharging device, comprising spaced apart members extending transversely of the lower ends of said 'bars and forming a discharge opening between the opposed portions of said members, one of said memlif bers being supported for longitudinal movement relative to the other member and transversely of the adjacent lower ends of said bars, and means for reciprocating said longitudinally movable member including a bar extending longitudinally of said member and a power driven rock shaft extending at right angles to said bar and having an arm for connection to said bar, with means for adjusting the stroke imparted to said bar by said arm.

14:. In a stoker furnace, the combination of a retort, means for feeding fuel into said retort, a set of alternating fixed and movable grate bars supported at one end upon an edge of said retort and extending laterally and downwardly therefrom, ash and clinker receiving and discharging means including opposed members, at the lower ends of said bars, one of said members being supported for swinging movement and the other of said members. supported for longitudinal movement with a space between the adjacent edges of said members forming a discharge opening, a fixed shaft extending transversely of the lower ends of said bars and upon which said longitudinally movable member is mounted, a longitudinally movable shaft engaging the lower'portion of said longitudinally movable member for moving said member longitudinally, a rock shaft supported beneath the lower ends of said bars, cranks on said rock shaft to engage and move the langitudinally movable grate bars longitudinally, a power rock shaft extending at right angles to said rock shaft, segmental gears for transmitting motion from said power shaft to said rock shaft, an arm on said power shaft to engage and move said longitudinally movable shaft longitudinally, and means for turning said power shaft to impart simultaneous movement to said movable grate bars and to said longitudinally movable member.

15. A fuel residue receiving and discharging device for progressive feed furnaces, comprising spaced apart elements one of which is pivotally mounted, forming therebetween an elongated outlet extending transversely of the direction of fuel feed, said elements having roughened surfaces exposed to said outlet, and means for reciprocating the other of said elements longitudinally of said outlet.

16. A fuel residue receiving and discharging device as set forth in claim 15, and including means for holding and adjusting said pivotally supported element to vary the width of said discharge opening.

17. A fuel residue receiving and discharging device for progressive feed furnaces comprising a pair of spaced apart elements forming therebetween an elongated fuel residue discharge opening extending transversely of the direction of fuel feed, means for reciprocating one of said elements relative to the other and longitudinally of said discharge opening, and means for adjusting one of said elements to vary the width of said discharge opening.

WILFRED A. HARE. 

